Turn Up The Flavors On Your Charcuterie Board With Za'atar Snacks

Whether you're pulling together a platter worthy of a crowd, or whipping up a selection for one, charcuterie boards offer a world of flavor in a variety of foods. Naturally, you want to start with the best types of meats and cheeses for your charcuterie board, and then maybe kick things up with some of our top underrated foods to include on your next charcuterie board. But there's one more addition that can really take things to the next level, and that's za'atar snacks.

Za'atar works on a charcuterie board for a couple of reasons. One, it adds crunchy texture that makes a delightful contrast to soft cheeses and dips. Then there's the tangy, zippy flavor that is particularly adept at complementing meats, but also does wonders for bringing out different notes in all types of cheeses.

If you haven't tried za'atar before, you're in for a treat. This delightful spice mix has been used in the Middle East since the 12th century. Rather than a powder, it's a coarse dried herb mixture that includes sesame seeds, sumac, marjoram, dried oregano, dried thyme, and coarse salt. The name comes from the special type of thyme found in the Middle East that's used in the mix. You can find blends online, in spice shops, at Middle Eastern markets, or in select grocery stores (Trader Joe's discontinued theirs, but Whole Foods still carries it) — or you can try your hand at making a homemade za'atar blend.

We love za'atar added to a simple whipped feta dip, which is particularly tasty when topped with a drizzle of good olive oil. You might also try an adaptation of our Christmas cheese ball with za'atar folded in — the parsley, red pepper, and walnuts are all ingredients commonly used in Middle Eastern cuisine. Speaking of red pepper and walnuts, how about mixing up some za'atar-spiked muhammara dip? Or go a different direction and stir some of the spice into homemade or store-bought baba ghanoush. 

Za'atar is also delicious mixed into pastry-based bites or sprinkled onto flatbreads with olive oil and quickly baked. But if you want to go even simpler, you can add a dash of za'atar to olive oil for bread dipping. And thanks to the growing popularity of the spice blend, there are also tasty pre-packaged za'atar snacks available, like za'atar pita chips, za'atar-coated nuts, and crackers coated with olives and za'atar. And if you're still searching for inspiration, check out our expert ways to use za'atar in your cooking for more ideas.